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Okuapemman Senior High School in Akropong-Akuapem on Saturday 14th February celebrated its 58th Speech and Prize-giving Day at the school Auditorium to reckon and assess the school’s performance over the period.

The occasion was also earmarked to honour both staff and students who had established excellence in their various fields of endeavours.

This year’s programme was organised under the theme: “Combating today’s Environmental Challenges: The Pivotal Role of the Students”.

In his welcome remarks the Headmaster of the school, Mr. Daniel Afari lauded the 1985 year group for being the premier sponsors of the programme. He said that should serve as a shining example for other year groups, corporate bodies and philanthropists to follow. He stressed that Okuapeman School always stressed on the best and first in whatever endeavour it found itself in; as the school motto clearly spelt out. Semper Primus (Latin) meaning Always First. That he explained that both teachers and students should take a cue from in order to promote teaching and learning to the apex. He also explained that Okuapeman School had moved sturdily from strength to strength as it chalked successes in various stages such as academics, sports and other co-curricular activities. He congratulated the teaching staff, the board of governors and the P.T.A for the part they played in instilling discipline in the school.

Again, the Headmaster showered praises on the PTA as he outlined the numerous assistance it had extended to the school. He said the association had provided a mechanized bore-hole water to help solved the aged-long acute water shortage in the school. It had also renovated the school’s sick bay, the brain behind the creation of the ICT laboratory, revamped the school farm and the production of poultry broilers among others. He also commended government for the unmeasured help it had and had been extending to the school. He mentioned that in the immediate past the government had presented 1000 student mattresses, 500 double metal beds to the school through the GES. He also mentioned the provision of 3 No-4 units 2 bedroom bungalows for 12 teachers as government efforts to accommodate them.

In his submission, the Eastern Regional Minister Hon. Antwi Bosiako Sekyere said Speech Days, were special as it invoked nostalgic feelings of the past most especially as it promoted opportunity to reunite with old friends and mates. He further explained that occasions such as that was the time to assess and examine critically and objectively individual’s and the school’s performance over the period of review. He said he could not agree more with the theme of the occasion considering the current environmental challenges facing the country; “Combating today’s Environmental Challenges, the Pivotal Role of the Students”. He explained that the sustenance and survival of the human race largely depended on the environment around us as it served as a major source of food supplies, water, plants and trees, mineral deposits and a host of life supporting ingredients and materials. He was of the opinion that in man’s quest to meet legitimate socio-economic needs, extensive damage had plagued our productive lands and the environment through deforestation, air and water pollution, desertification, over-grazing and destruction of bio-diversity.

The minister further outlined 3 key challenges that had bedeviled the environment and he pleaded with the citizenry to join the crusade in battling them. Some of these cankers included Galamsey activities in the country especially in the Eastern Region in particular. He touched on illegal lumbering which had resulted in deforestation and finally the wanton littering of the environment. “It is appropriate that we inculcate the spirit of cleanliness in students, so that when they leave the walls of the school they will carry along with them and become responsive adults in society,” he noted.

Government has introduced the National Sanitation Day as way of building communal spirit to help clear the filth that has engulfed communities. “I wish to entreat the authorities to take this up and involve students in the cleaning of the environment of the schools during such days,” he concluded.

Deserving and hardworking teachers, non-teaching staff and students over the period in review were awarded with gifts and citations.

Also present to grace the occasion were the Eastern Regional Director of Education Mrs. Rosetta Addison, Municipal Chief Executive of Akuapem North Municipal Hon. George Opare Addo and the Akuapem North Municipal Director of Education Mr. Kwabena Nyamekye.